TextMate 1.5.4 Review

TextMate is an advanced text editor designed with software and web developers in mind (chimoosoft.com is maintained with it). Notable features include tabs, project level management of files, multi-file (project) search with regular expression support, text-completion, syntax highlighting for scores of languages, a command line launcher, and countless editable macros defined for each language to reduce typing and improve efficiency. Standard OS X spell checking is also included, but with a nice twist - it's smart enough to avoid flagging items such as HTML tags. A built in web preview is available and many scripting languages have the ability to run and display their output within TextMate.

In addition to your standard and expected text editor features, TextMate can do some truly amazing things. For example, when writing HTML, select a word, press a key shortcut, and TextMate will look up the best matching link for the word on Google and insert it as a link in your HTML code! If you can't remember the appropriate key combo, a floating searchable browser is available where you can quickly find the shortcut you desire. Find the large number of features overwhelming? Check out the free online "screencasts" (iTunes link) which demonstrate how to use TextMate's powerful features or browse the extensive online help.

• By MacroMates.
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Chimoo Timer Pre-Release

An unsupported pre-release of the new Chimoo Timer version 1.5 is now available.

Google Importer 1.0.1 Review

Google Importer is a convenient Spotlight plugin which queries Google whenever you perform a Spotlight search and includes the top Google hits in the results list. This provides a quick alternative for missing local search results; when information you thought was located on your local computer isn't actually there, you can seamlessly use the top Google hits instead.

Unfortunately, results can sometimes take quite a while to show up, but this may be a fault of Spotlight and not the importer. Perform a general query which returns many thousands of results, and a long delay will ensue before the Google hits appear, however, a more specialized query produces results relatively quickly.

Note: the software was tested on a 1.5 GHz G4, so the speed should be improved on newer Intel based Macs. Since results are filed under the "Bookmarks" heading, make sure to enable this category in the Spotlight system preference pane.

• By Caffeinated Cocoa.
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Transmit 3.5.6 Review

Tired of your free file transfer client? There are many different ftp/sftp clients for Mac OS X including the built in terminal commands, however the free ones often leave something to be desired. After variously using RBrowser, Fetch, CyberDuck (free), and Fugu (free) over the years, Transmit finally emerged as the preferred choice. If you want a client which offers a very Mac like interface without any hassles, Transmit may be the choice for you.

Transmit features a column browser which shows both "your files" (local) and "their files" (remote) side by side. It can be set to default to your favorite directory both locally and remotely at launch time and can even automatically connect to your favorite server. A handy synchronization feature allows you to synchronize a local directory with a remote one and includes advanced options for which types of files and modification date ranges to ignore (this is how chimoosoft.com is updated). Other handy features include queued file transfers, spring-loaded folders, linked local and remote folder browsing, drag and drop from the Finder, and editing of your remote files via your favorite editor(s). Integration with Quicksilver and Dashboard is also provided.

• By Panic.
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New Chimoo Timer Under Development

A new version of Chimoo Timer is in development. The new version features OS X standard toolbars, a redesigned interface, and more extensive customization options. Stay tuned for a release within the next month or so.

RSS & Speech Toggle

A new RSS feed is now available for our OS X Picks site, and another version (0.6) of Speech Toggle is available.

Quicksilver ß51 Review

Quicksilver is a freeware program which offers LaunchBar like functionality and more in a prettier, free package. No more time consuming trips to the Applications folder; simply type ⌘ (command) space followed by the first few letters of the item you want to launch and Quicksilver will find it. If the wrong item surfaces, a secondary match can be selected with the arrow keys, and Quicksilver will learn to bring up the correct choice next time.

Quicksilver goes beyond a simple launcher however; hit tab after choosing a program and an entire list of possible actions appears. Want to get info on the item you selected, rename it, or move it to the trash? No problem. You can even choose to open a file with the selected program, hit tab again, and then use Quicksilver to search for the file to open - without ever touching the Finder. A plugin interface allows even more extended functionality for many popular programs.

This program does so much it's quite impossible to summarize it in such a short review. For a taste, dive into the preferences and explore the nearly 100 actions, 100 plugins, and literally tons of customizability, or explore the extensive online documentation. Suffice it to say that there is plenty of functionality hidden within this software to keep you busy for a long time. After using it for a while, you'll have trouble using a Mac without it and will be downloading and installing it on each Mac you use.

Is LaunchBar dead? Not really; it's simply a matter of preference - both tools have lots to offer. Try them both and see which you prefer.

Addendum 11/6/2007. With the release of Leopard, Spotlight is enough faster to be used instead of QuickSilver. If you've been using QuickSilver, it may be time to give Spotlight a chance again as it offers some additional niftiness which QuickSilver can't match.

• By Blacktree, Inc..
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